Opaque Hourglass

Opaque Hourglass is a Substack that blends poetry, critical essays, and speculative fiction to explore themes like capitalism, wisdom, dream dynamics, poetry's societal role, life's phases, water's personification, parenting, film appreciation, teaching philosophy, human existence, and political satire. It employs humor, surreal imagery, and reflective narratives to critique and ponder societal, existential, and personal topics.

Capitalism Wisdom and Philosophy Dream and Imagination Poetry and Society Life's Phases Humor and Satire Parenting Film Appreciation Education Existential Reflections Political Commentary

The hottest Substack posts of Opaque Hourglass

And their main takeaways

Religious Poems

159 implied HN points • 16 Jul 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality
  1. Rule one for religious poetry: be brief to prevent sounding like you're arguing for no reason.
  2. Rule two for religious poetry: embrace flippancy over sanctimoniousness for authenticity.
  3. Rule three for religious poetry: reject or ignore sanctimonious religious perspectives for creativity.

Annoying Parisian Dragonfly

159 implied HN points • 01 Oct 23
📚 Literature Poetry
  1. The poem 'Annoying Parisian Dragonfly' narrates a comical yet impactful encounter with a dragonfly in Paris
  2. The dragonfly incident leads to a chain reaction of events, resulting in a moment of clarity and revelation for the narrator
  3. Through chaos and frustration, the poet finds unexpected beauty and meaning in the experience

Invisible Airflow Autumnalia

159 implied HN points • 25 Sep 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Poetry Nature
  1. The wind can be both powerful and gentle, guiding us while also allowing us to feel undeserving of its kindness
  2. Nature's elements, like the wind, can disrupt and transform the ordinary, leaving behind a new perspective
  3. Silence can be as impactful as sound, creating moments of reflection and depth

Sunday Notes

139 implied HN points • 30 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Observations Reflections
  1. The author observed four dead bees on the floor of a church, which led to thoughts on their possible journey into the building.
  2. The text discusses a concept where acquiring more resources often leads to increased consumption without significant change.
  3. The idea of taking actions like bailing out a sinking ship not to save it, but to prolong the experience highlights a unique perspective on decision-making.

Prophet's Proposal

99 implied HN points • 30 Jul 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Beliefs Prayer Marriage God
  1. Listening and reflecting on different perspectives can lead to personal growth and questioning of beliefs.
  2. Prayer can take various forms, each with its own motives and moral implications.
  3. Unexpected encounters can lead to profound moments and reflections on life's mysteries.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Sharing My Rejections

79 implied HN points • 09 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Personal Story Family Self-reflection Marriage Career
  1. The author shares a personal story of rejection in their marriage and its impact on their life.
  2. The rejection prompted feelings of bitterness and led to self-destructive behavior like heavy drinking.
  3. Reflecting back, the author realizes the privilege they had and the importance of supporting their partner's independence.

Sunday Notes

19 implied HN points • 16 Apr 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Creative Writing Visual art
  1. The kids struggled to pick peas off the vine without damaging it, showcasing a lack of experience.
  2. Judgmental behavior was observed from the people parked near the author at the wildflower valley overlook.
  3. A surprising observation was made when a cow pie appeared dry on the outside but was actually wet inside.

"The River" Revised by AI

1 HN point • 09 Jun 24
📚 Literature Poetry Artificial Intelligence Criticism Memory Themes
  1. The AI revision of a poem can offer new insights and perspectives, making us reconsider the original work.
  2. Sometimes, amateurish art and poetry, including AI-generated pieces, can still hold value and evoke unexpected appreciation.
  3. Artificial intelligence translations of human-generated poems can function like literary criticism, highlighting themes and meanings that may not have been immediately apparent.